U.S. patent application number 14/864311 was filed with the patent office on 2016-06-02 for manufacturing method of touch screen panel.
The applicant listed for this patent is Samsung Display Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Sang Min BAEK.
Application Number | 20160154500 14/864311 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56079215 |
Filed Date | 2016-06-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160154500 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BAEK; Sang Min |
June 2, 2016 |
MANUFACTURING METHOD OF TOUCH SCREEN PANEL
Abstract
A manufacturing method of a touch screen panel related to the
exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: forming
touch electrodes on a substrate; forming an insulating layer on the
touch electrodes; disposing an adhesive layer on the touch
electrodes and the insulating layer, the adhesive layer including
an adhesive protection film adhered on one surface of the adhesive
layer facing away from the touch electrodes; and forming a
conductive layer on the adhesive protection film.
Inventors: |
BAEK; Sang Min; (Asan-si,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Display Co., Ltd. |
Yongin-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
56079215 |
Appl. No.: |
14/864311 |
Filed: |
September 24, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
29/622 ;
345/87 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/044 20130101;
G06F 3/0446 20190501; G06F 2203/04111 20130101; G06F 3/0443
20190501; G06F 2203/04103 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/044 20060101
G06F003/044; G06F 3/0354 20060101 G06F003/0354; G09G 3/36 20060101
G09G003/36; G06F 3/0488 20060101 G06F003/0488 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 28, 2014 |
KR |
10-2014-0169121 |
Claims
1. A method of manufacturing a touch screen panel, comprising:
forming touch electrodes on a substrate; forming an insulating
layer on at least a part of the touch electrodes; disposing an
adhesive layer on the touch electrodes and the insulating layer,
the adhesive layer comprising an adhesive protection film adhered
on one surface of the adhesive layer facing away from the touch
electrodes; and forming a conductive layer on the adhesive
protection film.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing the adhesive
protection film.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the forming the touch electrodes
comprises: forming first touch electrodes extending in a first
direction not overlapping each other; and forming second touch
electrodes in a second direction, wherein the first touch
electrodes and the second touch electrodes are alternately disposed
not overlapping each other, and wherein the touch screen panel
comprises: first connecting portions electrically connecting two of
the first touch electrodes that are adjacent to each other in the
first direction; and second connecting portions electrically
connecting two of the second touch electrodes that are adjacent to
each other in the second direction.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the forming the insulating layer
comprises: forming the insulating layer in an island-shape in areas
where the plurality of first connecting portions crosses the second
connecting portions.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the forming the adhesive layer
comprises: forming the adhesive layer to expose the insulating
layer and the second touch electrodes adjacent to the insulating
layer.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second touch electrodes are
exposed by openings formed in the adhesive layer in the second
direction.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first connecting portions are
disposed on the same layer as the first touch electrodes, and the
first connecting portions is integrally formed with the first touch
electrodes.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein removing the protection film
comprises: removing the conductive layer formed on the protection
film.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second connecting portions
are disposed on the insulating layer.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first connecting portions
and the second connecting portions are insulated by the insulating
layer.
11. The method of claim 2, further comprising: attaching a cover
substrate onto a surface of the adhesive layer from which the
protection film is removed.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer includes an
optically clear adhesive (OCA) film.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from and the benefit of
Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0169121 filed on Nov. 28,
2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as
if fully set forth herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of a
touch screen panel including a touch sensing sensor.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Background
[0005] A display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an
organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, an electrophoretic
display, etc. includes a field generating electrode and an
electro-optical active layer. For example, the OLED display
includes an organic emission layer as the electro-optical active
layer. The field generating electrode is connected to switching
elements, such as a thin film transistor and the like, configured
to receive a data signal, and the electro-optical active layer is
configured to convert the data signal into an optical signal to
display an image.
[0006] A display panel of the display device may include a heavy
and fragile glass substrate, and the display device may have some
limitations in portability and use in a large screen display.
Accordingly, a flexible display device may include a plastic
substrate, which is light, strong against impacts, and flexible, as
a substrate of the display panel.
[0007] The display device may further include a touch sensing
function for interaction with a user, in addition to a display
function. A touch sensing function is configured to receive touch
information, including whether an object is approaching and/or
touching a screen. The touch position may be detected by sensing
changes in pressure, charge, light, and the like that are applied
to the screen of the display device in response to a user writing
characters or drawing figures by approaching and/or touching the
screen using a finger and/or a touch pen. The display device may be
configured to receive an image signal in response to the touch
information and display an image.
[0008] The touch sensing function may be implemented using a touch
sensing sensor. The touch sensing sensor may have various types,
such as a resistive type, a capacitive type, an electromagnetic
type (EM), an optical type, etc.
[0009] For example, the resistive type of touch sensor may include
two electrodes facing and separated from each other. When a
pressure from an external object is applied, the two electrodes may
contact each other. When the two electrodes contact each other,
change in voltage caused by change in resistance at the touch
position can be detected such that the touch position and the like
are determined.
[0010] The capacitive type of touch sensing sensor includes a
sensing capacitor including a plurality of sensing electrodes
configured to transmit a detection signal, and is configured detect
change in capacitance of the sensing capacitor or an amount of
charges charged in response to a conductor such as a finger
approaching the touch sensing sensor, thereby determining whether
the touch occurred or not and the touch position. The capacitive
type of touch sensing sensor includes a plurality of touch
electrodes disposed in the touch sensing area and
signal-transmitting wires connected to the touch electrodes.
[0011] The signal-transmitting wires are configured to transmit a
sensing input signal to the touch electrodes, and/or to transmit a
sensing output signal of the touch electrodes to a sensing signal
controller.
[0012] In a flexible display device, the touch sensing sensor is
formed in a separate touch screen panel and attached to the
flexible display device as an add-on cell type.
[0013] When a touch screen panel is formed to have a plurality of
layers, a process for forming connecting portions of a touch
sensing sensor is added, thereby reducing fabrication yield and
increasing cost.
[0014] Also, since the connecting portions are formed as minute
patterns, steps may be generated, and etching process may leave
residues which may result in corrosion.
[0015] The above information disclosed in this Background section
is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the
inventive concept, and, therefore, it may contain information that
does not form the prior art that is already known in this country
to a person of ordinary skill in the art.
SUMMARY
[0016] The exemplary embodiments provide a simplified manufacturing
process of the touch screen panel with reduce cost.
[0017] The exemplary embodiments also provide a manufacturing
process of the touch screen panel reducing or preventing
impurities, such as moisture and the like, from permeating into a
touch sensing sensor, thereby reducing defects of the touch sensing
sensor and enhancing durability thereof.
[0018] Additional aspects will be set forth in the detailed
description which follows, and, in part, will be apparent from the
disclosure, or may be learned by practice of the inventive
concept.
[0019] According to one or more exemplary embodiments, a
manufacturing method of a touch screen panel includes: forming
touch electrodes on a substrate; forming an insulating layer on the
touch electrodes; disposing an adhesive layer on the touch
electrodes and the insulating layer, the adhesive layer including
an adhesive protection film adhered on one surface of the adhesive
layer facing away from the touch electrodes; and forming a
conductive layer on the adhesive protection film.
[0020] The foregoing general description and the following detailed
description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to
provide further explanation of the claimed subject matter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a display device including a
touch screen panel according to one or more exemplary
embodiments.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a touch sensing sensor of the
touch screen panel according to one or more exemplary
embodiments.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the display device including
the touch screen panel according to one or more exemplary
embodiments.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged view of the touch sensing
sensor illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the touch sensing sensor
illustrated in FIG. 4 taken along the sectional line A-A'.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a flowchart for illustrating an exemplary
manufacturing method of a touch screen panel according to one or
more exemplary embodiments.
[0027] FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 are cross-sectional views of a
touch sensing sensor according to one or more exemplary
embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0028] In the following description, for the purposes of
explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to
provide a thorough understanding of various exemplary embodiments.
It is apparent, however, that various exemplary embodiments may be
practiced without these specific details or with one or more
equivalent arrangements. In other instances, well-known structures
and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid
unnecessarily obscuring various exemplary embodiments.
[0029] In the accompanying figures, the size and relative sizes of
layers, films, panels, regions, etc., may be exaggerated for
clarity and descriptive purposes. Also, like reference numerals
denote like elements.
[0030] When an element or layer is referred to as being "on,"
"connected to," or "coupled to" another element or layer, it may be
directly on, connected to, or coupled to the other element or layer
or intervening elements or layers may be present. When, however, an
element or layer is referred to as being "directly on," "directly
connected to," or "directly coupled to" another element or layer,
there are no intervening elements or layers present. For the
purposes of this disclosure, "at least one of X, Y, and Z" and "at
least one selected from the group consisting of X, Y, and Z" may be
construed as X only, Y only, Z only, or any combination of two or
more of X, Y, and Z, such as, for instance, XYZ, XYY, YZ, and ZZ.
Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. As used herein, the
term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of
the associated listed items.
[0031] Although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to
describe various elements, components, regions, layers, and/or
sections, these elements, components, regions, layers, and/or
sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used
to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, and/or
section from another element, component, region, layer, and/or
section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer, and/or
section discussed below could be termed a second element,
component, region, layer, and/or section without departing from the
teachings of the present disclosure.
[0032] Spatially relative terms, such as "beneath," "below,"
"lower," "above," "upper," and the like, may be used herein for
descriptive purposes, and, thereby, to describe one element or
feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as
illustrated in the drawings. Spatially relative terms are intended
to encompass different orientations of an apparatus in use,
operation, and/or manufacture in addition to the orientation
depicted in the drawings. For example, if the apparatus in the
drawings is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath"
other elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other
elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term "below" can
encompass both an orientation of above and below. Furthermore, the
apparatus may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at
other orientations), and, as such, the spatially relative
descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
[0033] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments and is not intended to be limiting. As used
herein, the singular forms, "a," "an," and "the" are intended to
include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise. Moreover, the terms "comprises," "comprising,"
"includes," and/or "including," when used in this specification,
specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps,
operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof, but do not
preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,
integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups
thereof.
[0034] Various exemplary embodiments are described herein with
reference to plan and/or sectional illustrations that are schematic
illustrations of idealized exemplary embodiments and/or
intermediate structures. As such, variations from the shapes of the
illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques
and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, exemplary embodiments
disclosed herein should not be construed as limited to the
particular illustrated shapes of regions, but are to include
deviations in shapes that result from, for instance, manufacturing.
For example, an implanted region illustrated as a rectangle will,
typically, have rounded or curved features and/or a gradient of
implant concentration at its edges rather than a binary change from
implanted to non-implanted region. Likewise, a buried region formed
by implantation may result in some implantation in the region
between the buried region and the surface through which the
implantation takes place. Thus, the regions illustrated in the
drawings are schematic in nature and their shapes are not intended
to illustrate the actual shape of a region of a device and are not
intended to be limiting
[0035] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and
scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this
disclosure is a part. Terms, such as those defined in commonly used
dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is
consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art
and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense,
unless expressly so defined herein.
[0036] A manufacturing method of a touch screen panel according to
one or more exemplary embodiments will be described with reference
to the drawings.
[0037] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a display device including a
touch screen panel according to one or more exemplary embodiments,
and FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a touch sensing sensor of the
touch screen panel according to one or more exemplary embodiments.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the display device including the
touch screen panel according to one or more exemplary embodiments,
and FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged view of the touch sensing sensor
illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the
touch sensing sensor illustrated in FIG. 4 taken along the
sectional line A-A'.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 1, the display device including the touch
screen panel according to one or more exemplary embodiments may
include a display panel 300, and a display controller 600 and a
touch controller 700 that are connected to the display panel 300.
The display panel 300 may be configured to display an image, and
detect a touch.
[0039] In planar view, the display panel 300 may include a display
area DA configured to display the image and a peripheral area PA
disposed around the display area DA.
[0040] At least some area of the display panel 300 may be a touch
active area TA configured to detect the touch. The touch active
area TA is an area configured to detect a touch in response to an
object approaching and/or touching the display panel 300. The touch
may refer to a state of an external object, such as a finger of a
user, approaching the display panel 300 and/or hovering over the
display panel 300, as well as directly contacting the display panel
300.
[0041] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment in which the
entire display area DA substantially corresponds with the touch
active area TA, but the exemplary embodiments are not limited
thereto. Some of the peripheral area PA may correspond with the
touch active area TA, or only some of the display area DA may
correspond with the touch active area TA.
[0042] Referring to FIG. 1, a plurality of pixels PX and a
plurality of display signal lines (not illustrated) connected to
the plurality of pixels PX to transmit a driving signal are
disposed in the display area DA.
[0043] The plurality of display signal lines include a plurality of
scanning signal lines (not illustrated) configured to transmit a
scan signal, and a plurality of data lines (not illustrated)
configured to transmit a data signal. The scanning signal lines and
the data lines may extend crossing each other. The plurality of
display signal lines may be extended to the peripheral area PA and
form a pad portion (not shown).
[0044] The plurality of pixels PX may be arranged approximately in
a matrix form, but the exemplary embodiments are not limited
thereto.
[0045] Each of the plurality of pixels PX may include a switching
element (not shown) connected to the gate line and the data line,
and a pixel electrode (not shown) connected to the switching
element.
[0046] The switching element may be a three-terminal element, such
as a thin film transistor or the like, that is integrated into the
display panel 300. The switching element may be turned on and/or
turned off according to the gate signal transmitted through the
gate line to selectively transmit the data signal transmitted
through the data line to the pixel electrode.
[0047] Each of the plurality of pixels PX may further include a
facing electrode (not shown) that faces the pixel electrode.
According to one or more exemplary embodiments including an organic
light emitting diode (OLED) display, an emission layer may be
disposed between the pixel electrode and the facing electrode to
form a light-emitting device. The facing electrode may transmit a
common voltage.
[0048] In order to implement color display, each of the plurality
of pixels PX may be configured to display one of primary colors,
and these primary colors may be mixed to allow a desired color to
be perceived. For example, the primary colors may include three
primary colors such as red, green, and blue, and/or four primary
colors. Some of the
[0049] Each of the plurality of pixels PX may be disposed to
correspond to each pixel electrode and may further include; a color
filter configured to display one of the primary colors, or the
emission layer included in the organic light-emitting device
configured to emit colored light.
[0050] A contact sensing sensor is disposed in the touch active
area TA. The contact sensing sensor may be configured to sense
contacts in various ways. For example, the contact sensing sensor
may have various types such as a resistive type, a capacitive type,
an electromagnetic (EM) type, an optical type, etc. According to
the exemplary embodiments, the contact sensing sensor may be the
capacitance type.
[0051] Referring to FIG. 2, the contact sensing sensor according to
the exemplary embodiment includes a plurality of touch electrodes,
and the plurality of touch electrodes may include a plurality of
first touch electrodes 410 and a plurality of second touch
electrodes 420. The first and second touch electrodes 410 and 420
are separated from each other.
[0052] Referring to FIG. 2, the plurality of first and second touch
electrodes 410 and 420 may be alternately disposed not overlapping
with each other in the touch active area TA. The plurality of first
touch electrodes 410 may be disposed along column and row
directions, and the plurality of second touch electrodes 420 may be
disposed along the column and row directions. The first and second
touch electrodes 410 and 420 may be disposed on the same layer.
[0053] The first and second touch electrodes 410 and 420 may
respectively have a quadrangular shape, but the exemplary
embodiments are not limited thereto, and may have various shapes
and may further include, such as a protruding portion for improving
sensitivity of the contact sensing sensor.
[0054] The plurality of first touch electrodes 410 disposed in the
same row or column may be connected to or separated from each other
inside or outside the touch active area TA. Similarly, at least
some of the plurality of second touch electrodes 420 disposed in
the same column or row may be connected to or separated from each
other inside or outside the touch active area TA. For example, the
plurality of first touch electrodes 410 disposed in the same row
are connected to each other inside the touch active area TA, as
shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of second touch electrodes 420
disposed in the same column may be connected to each other inside
the touch active area TA.
[0055] More specifically, first connecting portions 412 may connect
the plurality of first touch electrodes 410 disposed in the same
row, and second connecting portions 422 may connect the plurality
of second touch electrodes 420 disposed in the same column.
[0056] The first touch electrodes 410 connected to each other in
each row may be connected to the touch controller 700 through first
touch wires 411, and the second touch electrodes 420 connected to
each other in each column may be connected to the touch controller
700 through second touch wires 421.
[0057] The first and second touch wires 411 and 421 may be disposed
in the peripheral area PA of the display panel 300, as shown in
FIG. 2, but the exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto, and
the first and second touch wires 411 and 421 may be disposed in the
touch active area TA. End portions of the first and second touch
wires 411 and 421 form a pad portion 450 in the peripheral area PA
of the display panel 300.
[0058] The first and second touch electrodes 410 and 420 may have a
transmittance equal to or higher than a predetermined value so
light from the display panel 300 may be transmitted through the
first and second touch electrodes 410 and 420. For example, the
first and second touch electrodes 410 and 420 may be made of a thin
metal layer including at least one of indium tin oxide (ITO),
indium zinc oxide (IZO), silver nanowire (AgNw), etc., and/or a
transparent conductive material including at least one of a metal
mesh, carbon nanotubes (CNT), etc., but the exemplary embodiments
are not limited thereto.
[0059] The first and second touch wires 411 and 421 may include a
transparent conductive material that is included in the first and
second touch electrodes 410 and 420, and/or a low resistance
material including at least one of molybdenum (Mo), silver (Ag),
titanium (Ti), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), and
molybdenum/aluminum/molybdenum (Mo/Al/Mo).
[0060] The first and second touch electrodes 410 and 420 disposed
adjacent to each other may form a mutual sensing capacitor that
serves as the contact sensing sensor. The mutual sensing capacitor
may be configured to receive a sensing input signal from either one
of the first and second touch electrodes 410 and 420, and output
sensing output signal according to a variation in an amount of
charges due to contact of the external object through the other one
of the first and second touch electrodes 410 and 420.
[0061] Unlike as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, each of the plurality of
first and second touch electrodes 410 and 420 may be separated from
each other and be respectively connected to the touch controller
700 through the touch wires (not shown). In this case, each touch
electrode may form a self-sensing capacitor that serves as the
contact sensing sensor. The self-sensing capacitor may be
configured to receive the sensing input signal and be charged with
a predetermined amount of charges, and output the sensing output
signal according to a variation in the amount of charge from the
received sensing input signal due to the contact of the external
object such as a finger occurs.
[0062] Referring back to FIG. 1, the display controller 600 is
configured to control an image display operation of the display
panel 300. More specifically, the signal controller 600 is
configured to receive an input image signal including luminance
information of each of the plurality of pixels PX and an input
control signal for controlling display of the input image signal
from an external device.
[0063] The signal controller 600 is configured to process the input
image signal based on the input image signal and the input control
signal, convert the input image signal into an output image signal,
and generate control signals including a gate control signal, a
data control signal, etc. The signal controller 600 is configured
to output the gate control signal to a gate driver (not shown), and
output the data control signal and the output image signal to a
data driver (not shown).
[0064] Though not illustrated, the data driver is configured to
receive the output image signal for one row of the plurality of
pixels PX according to the data control signal, and convert the
output image signal into the data voltage by selecting a gray-level
voltage corresponding to each output image signal, thereby applying
the data voltage to the corresponding data lines. The gate driver
is configured to apply a gate-on voltage to the gate line according
to the gate control signal to turn on the switching element
connected to the gate line on. Then, the data voltage applied to
the data lines is applied to the corresponding one of the plurality
of pixels PX through the turned-on switching element.
[0065] When the data voltage is applied to each of the plurality of
pixels PX, each of the plurality of pixels PX may display luminance
corresponding to the data voltage by controlling various optical
conversion elements such as the light-emitting device and the
like.
[0066] The touch controller 700 is connected to the contact sensing
sensor disposed in the touch active area, and is configured to
control an operation of the contact sensing sensor. The touch
controller 700 is configured to transmit the sensing input signal
to the contact sensing sensor, and/or is configured to receive and
process the sensing output signal. The touch controller 700 is
configured to process the sensing output signal to generate touch
information, such as whether the touch occurs or not, a touch
position, etc.
[0067] The driving devices, such as the data driver, the gate
driver, and the display controller 600, may be directly mounted on
the display panel 300 as at least one integrated circuit (IC) chip,
mounted on a flexible printed circuit film (not shown) to be
attached to the display panel 300 as a tape carrier package (TCP),
and/or mounted on a separate printed circuit board (PCB) (not
shown). The driving devices may also be integrated into the display
panel 300 along with the display signal lines, the switching
elements, etc.
[0068] The touch controller 700 may be directly mounted on the
display panel 300 as at least one IC chip, mounted on the flexible
printed circuit film to be attached to the display panel 300 as the
TCP, and/or mounted on the separate printed circuit board (PCB).
The touch controller 700 may be connected to the first and second
touch wires 411 and 421 through the pad portion 450 of the display
panel 300.
[0069] The display panel 300 may be formed on a transparent
insulating substrate including at least one of glass, quartz,
ceramic, plastic, etc.
[0070] In exemplary embodiments, the touch controller 700 and
display controller 600, and/or one or more components thereof, may
be implemented via one or more general purpose and/or special
purpose components, such as one or more discrete circuits, digital
signal processing chips, integrated circuits, application specific
integrated circuits, microprocessors, processors, programmable
arrays, field programmable arrays, instruction set processors,
and/or the like.
[0071] According to exemplary embodiments, the features, functions,
processes, etc., described herein may be implemented via software,
hardware (e.g., general processor, digital signal processing (DSP)
chip, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field
programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), etc.), firmware, or a combination
thereof. In this manner, the touch controller 700 and display
controller 600, and/or one or more components thereof may include
or otherwise be associated with one or more memories (not shown)
including code (e.g., instructions) configured to cause the touch
controller 700 and display controller 600, and/or one or more
components thereof to perform one or more of the features,
functions, processes, etc., described herein.
[0072] The memories may be any medium that participates in
providing code to the one or more software, hardware, and/or
firmware components for execution. Such memories may be implemented
in any suitable form, including, but not limited to, non-volatile
media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media
include, for example, optical or magnetic disks. Volatile media
include dynamic memory. Transmission media include coaxial cables,
copper wire and fiber optics. Transmission media can also take the
form of acoustic, optical, or electromagnetic waves. Common forms
of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a
flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium,
a compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM), a rewriteable compact
disk (CDRW), a digital video disk (DVD), a rewriteable DVD
(DVD-RW), any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape,
optical mark sheets, any other physical medium with patterns of
holes or other optically recognizable indicia, a random-access
memory (RAM), a programmable read only memory (PROM), and erasable
programmable read only memory (EPROM), a FLASH-EPROM, any other
memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave, or any other medium from
which information may be read by, for example, a
controller/processor.
[0073] Referring to FIG. 3, the touch screen panel includes a touch
sensing layer 400 in which the touch sensing sensor is formed, a
cover substrate 132 formed disposed to face facing the touch
sensing layer, the first adhesive layer 120 formed disposed between
the touch sensing layer 400 and on the display panel 300, and a
second adhesive layer 122 formed disposed on between the cover
substrate 132 and the touch sensing layer 400.
[0074] The touch sensing layer 400 may be laminated onto the
display panel 300 using a first adhesive layer 120. The touch
sensing layer 400 may be formed by disposing at least one
conductive material layer by using, for example, a sputtering
method and the like, and then patterning and/or printing the at
least one conductive material layer to form the plurality of touch
electrodes and the plurality of touch wires.
[0075] The first adhesive layer 120 and the second adhesive layer
122 may include a transparent adhesive material having high light
transmittance including at least one of a super view resin (SVR),
an optically clear adhesive (OCA) film, etc.
[0076] In addition, the cover substrate 132 may include at least
one of transparent glass, polyimide (PI), and polyethylene
terephthalate (PET). The touch sensing layer 400 may further
include a bottom insulating layer on the surface of the touch
sensing layer 400 facing the display panel 300.
[0077] Referring to FIG. 4, the touch sensing sensor may include
the plurality of first touch electrodes 410, the plurality of
second touch electrodes 420, the first and second connecting
portions 412 and 422, and an insulating layer 430. Referring to
FIG. 5, a touch electrode layer is formed on the touch sensing
layer substrate 101.
[0078] The substrate 101 of the touch sensing layer according to
the exemplary embodiments may include at least one of plastics,
metal thin films, and ultra-thin glasses. The substrate 101 of the
touch sensing layer may include at least one plastic film. For
example, the plastic film may include at least one of polyethylene
terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyimide
(PI), polycarbonate (PC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA),
polyarylate (PAR), polyether imide (PEI), polyether sulfone (PES),
and cellulose triacetate (TAC). The plurality of first touch
electrodes 410 and the plurality of second touch electrodes 420 may
be alternately distributed not overlapping with each other in the
touch electrode layer.
[0079] The plurality of first touch electrodes 410 disposed in each
row are connected to each other through the first connecting
portions 412, and the plurality of second touch electrodes 420
disposed in each column may be connected to each other through the
second connecting portions 422.
[0080] The insulating layer 430 is disposed between the first
connecting portions 412 and the second connecting portions 422,
insulating the first connecting portions 412 from the second
connecting portions 422. The insulating layer 430 may be a
plurality of separate island-shaped insulators that are disposed at
every intersection of the first connecting portions 412 and the
second connecting portions 422. The insulating layer 430 may expose
at least some of the first touch electrodes 410 such that the first
connecting portions 412 are connected to the first touch electrodes
410.
[0081] The first connecting portions 412 interconnecting the two
adjacent first touch electrodes 410 may be disposed on the same
layer as the first touch electrodes 410, and may be formed of the
same material as the first touch electrodes 410. That is, the first
touch electrodes 410 and the first connecting portions 412 may be
integrally formed, and may be simultaneously patterned.
[0082] The second connecting portions 422 interconnecting the two
adjacent second touch electrodes 420 may be disposed on a different
layer from that of the second touch electrodes 420. That is, the
first touch electrodes 420 and the second connecting portions 422
may be separated from each other, and may be separately
patterned.
[0083] The second touch electrodes 420 and the second connecting
portions 422 may be directly connected to each other.
[0084] The insulating layer 430 may have a shape having right edges
or a polygonal shape.
[0085] According to exemplary embodiments, an insulating layer 430
may be formed on an entire surface, with some of the insulating
layer 430 removed corresponding to the second touch electrodes 420
interconnecting the adjacent second touch electrodes 420 to each
other in the column direction.
[0086] The touch sensing sensor according to one or more exemplary
embodiments is not limited to the illustration shown in FIGS. 4 and
5. According to exemplary embodiments, the second connecting
portions 422 interconnecting the adjacent second touch electrodes
420 may be disposed on the same layer as the second touch
electrodes 420, integrally formed with the second touch electrodes
420, and the first connecting portions 412 interconnecting the
adjacent first touch electrodes 410 may be disposed on a different
layer from that of the first touch electrodes 410. The second
adhesive layer 122 may be disposed on the touch electrode layer,
and the cover substrate 132 may be attached on the second adhesive
layer 122.
[0087] Next, referring to FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, a method
for forming a touch electrode layer having the structure of FIG. 5
will be described.
[0088] FIG. 6 is a flowchart for illustrating an exemplary
manufacturing method of a touch screen panel according to one or
more exemplary embodiments, and FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 are
cross-sectional views of a touch sensing sensor according to one or
more exemplary embodiments.
[0089] First, touch electrodes are formed on a substrate of the
touch sensing layer (S10).
[0090] The touch electrodes include first touch electrodes 410 that
extend in a first direction and second touch electrodes 420 that
extend in a second direction. The first and second touch electrodes
410 and 420 may be formed by sputtering or depositing a transparent
conductive oxide on the substrate. A photolithography method may
also be used to form the first and second touch electrodes 410 and
420.
[0091] Next, an insulating layer 430 is formed on first connecting
portions 412 interconnecting the adjacent first touch electrodes in
the first direction (S20). The insulating layer 430 may include an
organic or inorganic insulator made of a transparent material, the
organic insulator is formed of a plastic material including at
least one of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene
naphthalate (PEN), polyimide (PI), polycarbonate (PC), polymethyl
methacrylate (PMMA), polyarylate (PAR), polyether imide (PEI),
polyether imide (PEI), polyether sulfone (PES), and cellulose
triacetate (TAC), and the inorganic insulator is formed of a glass
material and/or an optical grade glass material.
[0092] For example, the insulating layer 430 may be formed by a
process including at least one of depositing SiO2, laminating an
acryl-based dry film, coating a liquid type of silicone and/or
epoxy, and depositing a transparent insulating material such as
SiO2 and/or TiO2.
[0093] The liquid type of silicone or epoxy material may be formed
by a method including direct gravure coating, reverse gravure
coating, micro-gravure coating, comma coating, slot die coating,
slit coating, curtain coating, capillary coating, spray coating,
dip coating, silk screen and spin coating, flexographic printing,
gravure printing, inkjet printing, and offset printing methods.
[0094] Referring to FIG. 7, the insulating layer 430 may be formed
to have an island-shape on the first connecting portions 412.
[0095] Then, an adhesive layer 122 is formed on the touch electrode
layer (S30). The adhesive layer 122 may cover an entire surface of
the touch electrode layer and expose the insulating layer 430 and a
peripheral area around the insulating layer 430.
[0096] Referring to FIG. 8, the adhesive layer 122 includes an
adhesive layer protection film 124 adhered on one surface of the
adhesive layer 122 opposing the touch electrode layer. According to
one or more exemplary embodiments, the adhesive layer 122 may be
formed to partially expose the insulating layer 430 having the
island-shape and the second touch electrodes 420 around the
insulating layer 430. The adhesive layer may expose the second
touch electrodes 420 through an opening formed in the second
direction. The adhesive layer protection film 124 may be made of at
least one of polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate
(PET).
[0097] Next, second connecting portions 422 are formed on the
adhesive layer 122 (S40).
[0098] The second connecting portions 422 may be formed on the
adhesive layer by disposing a conductive material using a method
such as transferring, vapor deposition, and/or coating. The second
connecting portions 422 may be formed of a metal and/or a
transparent material having conductivity. For example, a thin metal
layer including at least one of indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc
oxide (IZO), aluminum zinc oxide (AZO), silver nanowire (AgNw),
etc. and/or a metal mesh, and the transparent material having
conductivity may include, but not limited to, carbon nanotubes
(CNT).
[0099] Referring to FIG. 9, the second connecting portions 422 may
be formed by disposing a conductive material 126 on the adhesive
layer protection film 124, and the insulating layer 430 and at
least a portion of the second touch electrodes 420 adjacent to the
exposed insulating layer 430 that are exposed by the adhesive layer
protection film 124.
[0100] Then, the adhesive layer protection film 124 is removed
(S50). The adhesive layer protection film 124 disposed on the
adhesive layer 122 may be removed, and the conductive material 126
formed on the adhesive layer protection film 124. The adhesive
layer protection film 124 may be removed using a method of holding
one surface of the adhesive layer protection film 124 and peeling
off the adhesive layer protection film 124 from the adhesive layer
122, a method of attaching one surface of the adhesive layer
protection film 124 to peel it off from the adhesive layer 122,
etc.
[0101] Referring to FIG. 10, when the adhesive layer protection
film 124 is removed, the remaining conductive material 422 may be
disposed only on the insulating layer 430 and some of the second
touch electrodes 420. The surface of the adhesive layer 122 from
which the adhesive layer protection film 124 is removed may have an
adhesive property.
[0102] Next, a cover substrate is attached on the entire surface of
the adhesive layer 122 (S60). The cover substrate may include at
least one of transparent glass, polyimide (PI), polyethylene
terephthalate (PET), etc.
[0103] As shown in FIG. 11, the cover substrate may be attached
onto the surface of the adhesive layer 122 from which the adhesive
layer protection film 124 is removed. The cover substrate may
encapsulate the touch screen panel to prevent permeation of
external moisture and/or oxygen.
[0104] According to the manufacturing method of the touch screen
panel according to the exemplary embodiments the manufacturing
processes of the touch screen panel including the touch sensing
sensor may be simplified and thus the cost may be reduced. Also,
according to the exemplary embodiments, the moisture and the
impurities, such as the residues and the like, generated during the
manufacturing process may be reduced or prevented from permeating
into the touch sensing sensor, thus, the defects of the touch
sensing sensor may be reduced and the durability thereof may be
enhanced.
[0105] Although certain exemplary embodiments and implementations
have been described herein, other embodiments and modifications
will be apparent from this description. Accordingly, the inventive
concept is not limited to such embodiments, but rather to the
broader scope of the presented claims and various obvious
modifications and equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *